The poem
Sexual intercourse began In nineteen sixty-three (which was rather late for me) - Between the end of the Chatterley ban And the Beatles' first LP.
Up to then there'd only been A sort of bargaining, A wrangle for the ring, A shame that started at sixteen And spread to everything.
Then all at once the quarrel sank: Everyone felt the same, And every life became A brilliant breaking of the bank, A quite unlosable game.
So life was never better than In nineteen sixty-three (Though just too late for me) - Between the end of the Chatterley ban And the Beatles' first LP.
I read Larkin's poem's as a 15 year old. And I am reading them now. this particular poem is appealing for its bold reference to sexual freedom which finally seemed to happen in 1963.though the poet was in his opinion too old for such activities, he appreciates the end of hypocrisy. The Beatles first LP refers to, probably, not only the excesses that later overtook society or the excitement it caused among the young comparable to the openness about sexual activity.
he he! the Beatles! come on all together now...a 1 a 2 a 1.2.3.4......we all live in a yellow submarine a yellow submarine a yellow submarine..............
Larkin is reflecting on the generation gap as it appears to him, like High Windows. In particular, changes in social mores and what they might mean to an older man observing changes in habits and practises of which he does not feel a part.
I think Tim is very immature and has missed the point of this serious ambiguous and moving poem, which i fell is symbolic of the times I have lived in.
I change this poem in a song for my exam..It's nice...Also Eliot and Auden can be change. However this poem is good, beautiful, because Larkin describes true, real thing happened. Sorry for my bad English.
Ciao
I've been trying to find out what the chatterley ban is, but to no avail. anyone?
the chatterly ban refers to the banning of D.H.Lawrence's novel Lady Chatterley's Lover. The ban was rescinded in 1960 and needless to say sold over 200 000 copies the minute the ban was lifted
I think that he is actualy being a little bit cynical
in that sexual freedom was already happening in the 50s. And probably the 40s too. Its almost taking the piss out of the bright young things, who thought that they had found something new.. come on ..sex is the oldest thing in the world.
I am writing an essay on this poem and just thought i'd ask for some help.
what does he mean by "...every life became // a brilliant breaking of the bank..."?
we all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine! Tim you're cool. Alistair, you're not hehe. break the bank means a gamble but unlosable so you can have sex without getting preganant.
i thinkk that although the mainfocus of this poem is the sexual revolution it shows that Philip Larkin is slightly less geekish then he seems because he mentions the beatles. Go Tim . we all live in a yellow submarine
However talented Phllip Larkin may be the fact is, he looks like an egg, oh and the poem? sound.
i fink this poem is brill - possibly my fav in the whole High Windows collection. Well done Larkin - you've certainly inspired me!
The Beatles' first LP was released in '62, this is a year before the '63 of Larkin's poem.
Anyone know why?
the beatles first LP is mentioned because it was called please please me. anyone recognise a theme?
Just another interpretation of the line "a brilliant breaking of the bank"..that could either signify the loss of one's virginity (but without the risk of pregnancy)or even a medical/scientific breakthrough...
I planing to give a presentation on this poem and Philip Larkin...liked his poems a lot...this poem has specially attrated me because of its boldness of expression. the casuality of tone which is there in this poem adds to effect even more. this poem can be taken as the announcement of sexual revolution...
The ban on chatterly is the ban on lady chatterly. That is a book written that was seen as a risqué move and therefore ban in the United States, United Kingdom and many other countries.
can any one give me the full analysis of this poem?????im waiting